NEED TO KNOW
Is Nicole Richie eyeing a return to reality TV?
The fashion designer, 44, rose to fame in the early 2000s on The Simple Life, which documented the highs, lows and hilarious moments as she and Paris Hilton lived and completed unexpected jobs away from privilege. The pair later reunited for Paris & Nicole: The Encore in 2024.
Now, Richie told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that she has no plans to once again do unscripted television.
“I did the reunion because it was the 20-year anniversary, and it felt right,” she explained, as she helped FASHIONPHILE celebrate the grand opening of its new flagship store at ROW DTLA in Los Angeles.
Added Richie: “It felt like something that we both wanted to do, and that was so fun. But I have no plans for that in the future.”
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The Simple Life premiered in 2003 and concluded in 2007. It ran for five seasons, with the first three airing on Fox and the latter two on E!
The series spawned a number of international remakes and spinoff series, including one hosted by Paris’ own mother, Kathy Hilton.
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Paris & Nicole: The Encore, meanwhile, was crafted for Peacock over a decade after The Simple Life ended.
It followed Richie and Paris, 44, as they tried to produce a once-in-a-lifetime operatic performance based on “Sanasa,” their self-coined phrase from their past reality show.
Michael Yarish/20th Century Fox Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock; Peacock
Richie and Paris said in an interview with Glamour last year that their parents weren’t on board when the idea for The Simple Life was first floated.
Paris’ parents are mom Kathy and dad Rick Hilton. Nicole was adopted at age 9 by dad Lionel Richie and mom Brenda Harvey Richie.
“Our parents did not want us to do it and told us not to,” Hilton told the outlet. “It was the first of its kind.”
However, the “Star Are Blind” singer’s mom and dad eventually changed their tune after the first episode aired. “My mom called me, and she’s like, ‘This is the most hilarious show I’ve ever seen in my life. You and Nicole are incredible.’ She’s like, ‘I was wrong for once,’ ” Paris said.
The Simple Life and Paris & Nicole: The Encore are available to stream.
